The online Course Offering Directory - the Bible of many University students - might undergo its own reformation.
The Faculty Senate has proposed an addition to the online version of the COD: a search engine to help students find courses by subject rather than by department only.
"We want to leave the directory as it is, but create a system to cross-reference the courses," Faculty Senate Chairwoman Patricia Werhane said. "The idea is that students who are interested in a topic can take more diverse courses in other departments."
The updated COD would consist of the current COD and an added search engine that would list each course according to a keyword. Students registering for classes could search by the current method or by typing in a keyword to search by topic.
Currently "it's a lot to sort through," third-year College student Margaret Brennan said. "A cross-reference would be more helpful and give you more guidance."
Werhane proposed the COD changes at yesterday's Faculty Senate meeting. No one at the meeting opposed the plan, so the new system is expected to be implemented by the Fall 2001 semester.
The Registrar's Office supports the initiative as well.
"If the Senate wishes to move forward, we'll do whatever we can to make it work," Asst. Registrar Robert LeHeup said.
The Senate eventually will ask for student input, Werhane said.
"The idea is that students interested in a topic might not know what other departments have within that discipline. The new directory will help not only students but also faculty advisors in suggesting courses to students," said Julian Connolly, professor of Slavic Languages and Literature.
Connolly will undertake the laborious task of compiling the new keywords and creating the new addition to the COD.
"We're hoping that people will go beyond what is natural and familiar and try things they haven't before," he said.
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